What Do torrid and Toast Have in Common?

Torrid derives from the Latin verb torrēre, which means "to burn" or "to parch" and is an ancestor of our word toast. Despite the dry implications of this root, it is also an ancestor of "torrent," which can refer to a violent stream of liquid (as in "a torrent of rain"). "Torrid" first appeared in English in the 16th century, and was originally used to describe something burned or scorched by exposure to the sun. The term "torrid zone" later came about to refer to tropical regions of the Earth. By the end of that century the word had taken on the extended meaning that we know today - suggesting fiery passion.

Examples of torrid in a Sentence

The team had a torrid time trying to score.
the dry, torrid summers in southern Arizona

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'torrid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.